FUN
Off the Beaten Path in
QATAR
by Emma Morrell
A
t first glance, it is easy to think there is little more to Qatar than the glittering glass skyline that rises out of the capital, Doha. Indeed, few visitors (and even some residents!) have made it past Doha’s city limits, preferring instead to stick to the traditional attractions. Activities such as visiting impressive museums like Museum of Islamic Art and National Museum of Qatar, touring Souq Waqif, and dining in five-star restaurants—all while enjoying panoramic views of the bay—are popular for a reason. But, there aren’t enough of them to fill the time that we once spent travelling. We have been stranded, either unable to get home or back into Qatar again or both, and have found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands. In the months between lockdowns, many of us discovered that there is more to this finger of land than meets the eye. And that’s not just in Doha but also the rest of the country.
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Whether you are new to Qatar or you’re just looking for some ideas of different things to do, here are some of our favourite places and activities that you may not have heard of before. Now, some of these activities are out of reach when Covid restrictions are at their tightest, but you can still keep them handy for when things open up again.
For the Explorers For those of us desperate to travel again, exploring every nook and cranny of the peninsula has been a must-do, and there is a surprising amount to find! Of course, there are the usual favourites of visiting Sealine, dune bashing to the Inland Sea, and finding the mysterious Singing Sand Dunes. Whether you end up watching the sun rise or set during those adventures or sleeping under the stars, you are bound to have an experience you will never forget. But, there is so much more to Qatar than just this. Purple Island, also known as Al Khor Island or Jazirat Bin Ghanim, has become a firm favourite with many people. It is surprisingly green for Qatar, with a mangrove forest and some limestone cliffs to explore. There are often birds, fish, and crabs to spot as well.
